Cousins – Cox Family Memories.com

Happy Birthday Carl – April 27

Well it is hard to believe, but Carl would have been sixty eight (68). He was born April 27, 1941, in Circleville, Ohio and died November 7, 1988 in or near Washington Courthouse, Ohio. Carl Edward Cox was the 2nd oldest child and 2nd son of Robert and Goldie Cox.

Carl was always a bit of a rennegade. He loved to go his own way and seemed to enjoy life to the fullest. I do remember him getting a few punishments at school. One time he stood up to some teacher. There was something to do with him getting the paddle at school and getting it again from Daddy when he got home for getting into trouble at school. I know that once he got a licking with a light cord. Lordee, we all were so upset about that. Daddy was bound and determined to make him mind.

I remember one time when Carl, as a teenager, had gotten into something and ran off into the field. Daddy drove his car down the lane and was standing up on top of the car looking for him. Carl was a character that everyone seemed to love. My husband, Pat, still talks about Carl being a lovable type rascal.

The funny thing is that you would have thought with all those lickings, he and Daddy would have been enemies. But I remember them hunting and butchering and doing all kinds of things together as Carl became a man.

We all remember the night Carl saved our lives. He came home from a date sometime late at night. As he is going up the stairs without lights and as the dog (can’t remember if it was Tippy or Ginger) was running back and forth, Carl felt the stair wall was hot. The inside of the chimney was on fire and as we all know, Carl woke us all up and got us all to get out of there. Some kids were a little reluctant to get up. I think Gary almost got left up there. Things are a little fuzzy, but I know we all got out alive, except the birds. We know if Carl had not gotten home when he did, we all may not have made it out. One thing for sure, Mommy did not want Carl to get water on her waxed floor. I do remember sitting in the car with the kids watching the house burn while the fire department was squirting water. I think they did as much damage as the fire.

Someday, I hope we all take time to write our memories of the fire, but this is a tribute to CARL.

Over the years, I do remember him being such a hard worker. He gave all the men a chance to work for or with him, but took no crap or laziness from anybody.

Tommy with Larry and Carl.

Carl over to the far left on a Sunday School outing with Aunt Ethel’s Sunday School class. I remember being driven there in the back of a truck. Don’t miss Shirley with her lady like leg position right out in front.

Carl 14 years old

Cox Gang – 1979

Carl with Grandma and Grandpa Cantrell in Kentucky

I hope everybody wishes “Carlie” a Happy Birthday. He is probably up there having a great time laughing and cutting up with them right now.

I added this next part from Carl’s page just to keep it over here on the blog part too.

Carl’s early childhood was spent mostly in Fairborn, Ohio. Here is a picture of Carl with Susy Bolin with her arm around her cousin, Annabelle Bolin’s daughter, Cathy Bolin. Annabelle is Daddy’s sister, Ethel’s daughter, our cousin. Carl was a skinny kid, wasn’t he.

We spent a lot of time with Annabelle and Bobby Bolin when we lived in Fairborn, in the Holten houses.

Carl joined the Army in …………..

Married Emma Joyce Leeth in …….

Carl and Joyce had 3 children

Carla Jo’s Junior prom dress

I remember my dad(Carl) would drop me off at Martha’s house when he would got to work. One day, Martha, Grandma Goldie, Richard, and I all went to the Dayton Mall. We pushed Richard all around the mall in his stroller. We went into Elder-Beerman’s where I saw at that time the most beautiful prom dress. It was all pink lace. Martha made me try it on so we would know what size to tell mom. I thought that was huge!! Only, the next huge hurdle was mom letting me have it. Of course, a prom dress with that slightly high price tag was my only worry. My mom(Joyce) wasn’t worried about the price tag, she was worried about the dress having satin spaghetti straps. Of all the things that never crossed my mind. It still had a little lace jacket, but mom just had a fit about the straps. Needless to say, we got the dress, but Martha had to help me out by talking my mom into getting that dress. Thanks, Aunt Martha!!!

Clay Cantrell – Goldie’s Brother

Clay Cantrell- Mom's Brother — Clay Cantrell- Mom's (Goldie) Brother

Here is a picture of Clay Cantrell, in front of an ambulance. Don’t have any idea when or why. Wonder what relationship the ambulance played in his life.

Maybe we can locate Gwendolyn, his daughter. I do remember, when I was 10, I went on a trip with Gwen, Clay, and Janny, Clay’s wife. We drove to somebody’s house. I think it was Johnny Vanover’s mother and father’s house in Kentucky or it could have been Janny’s parents. Clay and Janny lived in Dayton. I remember Gwen was studying tap dancing and demonstrated her tap dancing. She even had her costume on. I thought that was pretty. I remember sitting on the porch and feeling so homesick.

I know Clay was shot. I don’t know the date nor for sure who shot him.

Hello Gang!

Myrtle in better hair do — Myrtle - good Hair days.

Well, here we go guys! Remember, this is just one means for us to record our memories, history, pictures and whatever…. This is definitely a work in progress.

As I said in the email, after talking and reminiscing on Thanksgiving Day with Gary and then Vickie, about our family fun and tragedies, somehow or other we came up with the idea of making a book. That led to this blog to be used as one means of putting our memories here in any old way you want. Then at some point, I will collect all the thoughts and information and put it together to make up our book. Then the blog can just keep on going and we can keep adding current life, ie., new kids, their activities, new happenings, etc.

Of course this will require all of us contributing memories and history. I asked each one to vote on the blog title or offer another suggestion. No one gave a suggestion, but I had five votes for CoxFamilyMemories.com and one vote for CoxCantrellFamily.com. That’s how we came up with this blog domain and title.

So after chatting with some of you, it seems we will need a deadline for the content for the book. I think the book itself should probably start with some history of Goldie and Robert family backgrounds with as much genealogy as possible through their life as we can describe or remember or get information. Then the book could go on through with all of our lives and memories through memories related to Mom’s (Goldie) demise and funeral. What do you think?

What do you think should be the deadline? Is January 30, 2009 too soon or too late?

For the book, remember anybody can give their information in any format and in any order they want. So if some would prefer to just send emails to me, I will add them to the blog for others to see and maybe add extra input on that memory. Also, if some would prefer to just write their memories on paper and send them to me, I will transcribe them. Or.. if some want to record them on audio tape or on their computer, that is ok too.

I think I will set a page or category for everyone who contributes and a tag for everyone we mention. Does that sound reasonable. Or do you think it is better to put a page for everyone mentioned. These things can be adjusted.

My last thought and plea is that everyone have fun with this. Please don’t take this as Myrtle’s book. Please don’t find offense if it looks like some body or some incident is not covered. It is up to all of us to make a comment and let me know if I miss something or forget something. It is all in fun and family spirit and no one will be slighted, intentionally. So if anyone has a thought or desire about what or how the book or blog should unfold, or you think I am doing something wrong, PLEASE let me know. It will not hurt my feelings. If it affects everyone, I will get a concensus.